Combined transporting and lowering apparatus



Nov. 18, 1941.-

L. M. HOLMES COMBINED TRANSPORTING AND LOWERING APPARATUS Filed Feb. 24, 1939 3 Sheets-Sheet l L. M. HOLMES Nov. 18,1941.

COMBINED TRANSPORTING AND LOWERING APPARATUS 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 24, 1959 s. m .wwm 4 m m i F X a Nov. 18, 19 41. L. M. HOLMES COMBINED TRANSPORTING AND LOWERING APPQRATUS Filed Feb. 24, 1959 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 m w M Patented Nov. 18, 1941 APPARATUS I LewisM. Holmesfllshland, Ohio, assignor to Ashland- Vault Incorporated, Ashland, Ohio,,a corporation of Ohio Application February 24, 1939; SerialNo, 258 ,26

1 Claim.

The invention relates to means for-transporting and otherwise handling loads, and is particularly adaptable for the displacing and servicing,

of burial vaults. These vaults, being oftentimes formed of concrete, are usually comparativelyheavy, weighing upwards of a ton.

The objects of the invention are to provide transporting and handling apparatus which is readily and conveniently movable both laterally and lengthwise upon suitable running gear, which is easily operated and always under the control of the operator, particularly in lifting and lowering loads, which will run smoothly over uneven ground, and whichis of sturdy and durableconstruction. As applied to the displacing and servicing of burial vaults, the improved apparatus is of light weight so that-it can be conveniently lifted and placed over the vaults; or alternatively,

are on the ground or closely adjacent any other supporting surface.

Other advantages will appear in" detail by ref' erence; to the following'description and the accompanying'drawings.

The annexed drawings and the'foll'owing' de} scription set forth in detail certain means illus trating my-improved transporting and lowering apparatus, such means constituting, however,

only a few of the various forms in which theprin ciple of the invention may be embodied.

In said annexed drawings: I Figure lis a plan View of the improved apparatus;

Figure 2 is a side elevation; Figure 3 is an end elevation, taken from the plane indicated by the line 3-3, Figure 1; I

Figure 4 is a side elevation, partly in section,

upon an enlarged scale, of one corner of the improved apparatus;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary transverse vertical section, taken in the plane indicated by the'line 55, Figure 4;

Figure 6 is a fragmentary horizontal longitudinal section, taken in the'plane indicated by the line -6-6, Figure 4;

Figure 7 is a fragmentary vertical transverse section, taken in the plane indicated by the'line 'l--|, Figure 4;

Figure 8 is an end elevation of a modified'form of apparatus, in which a certain upper cross .bar' has been dispensed with, and which is adaptedfor a vault having an end opening;

Figure 9 is an end elevation of a second modified form of-apparatus having a removablelowen one form of the apparatus is adapted to be run overfthe vaults when the latter frame.

cross bar, and transmission supporting corner standards of added height, this form of. appa' ratus being adapted to travel overa vault when the latter'is on theground or closely adjacent I any other supporting'surfa'ce;

Figure 10 is a fragmentary longitudinal hori zontal section,.upon an enlarged scale, taken in the plane'indicated by the line l0 l ll, Figure 9;

Figure 11 is a fragmentary end'elevation of a modified'form' of apparatus in which the corner transmission-supportingstandards are in axial alignment with thespindlesjof the" casters of'the running gear; 1

Figure 12 is a, fragmentary horizontal longitudinal section, taken in' the plane" indicated vby the line l2-l2, Figurell; and

Figure 13 is a fragmentary vertical section,

taken axially of the caster spindle and in the plane indicated by the line I 3il? Figure 12;

Referring to 'the annexed drawings inwhich the-improved apparatus is illustrated as applied:

tothe displacing and servicing of burial'vault's, and in which'drawings the samepartsare desig nated by the same respective'numbers in the several views, and first particularly'referring to that form of the improved 'apparatuswhich is shown in'Figures 1'7, the apparatus'has'a chassis comprising a suitable carriage frame and running gear therefor which is ofiset from the carriage Included in the carriage areend angles I and side angles 2, Figures1,"2,an'd 3, securedtogether at their'abuttingcorner ends byvangle brackets 3, Figure 6. These brackets 13..have central offset tubular portions 4 forming housingsj for the spindles 6' of casterframes 5} of yoke formation and. provided with rubber tired casters or wheels-1'. The upper and lower endsof the spindle housings 4 are laterally enlarged, Fig,- ure 7, and form chambers respectively for annu lar ball bearings 9 and combined annular and' thrust ball bearings; 9' between spindles 6 and such enlarged 'hO'llSlIIg'BIldS. The tops of the housings 4 are enclosed by caps 8 removably secured to the tops lf-thespin'dlesii. There are clearance areas B'betw'een thetops'fand bottoms, V respectively, ofthe hou'sings' 4 and" the bottom surfaces of the caps '8 and the topsurfacesof the caster frames" 5, respectively; It isithusiapparent that the" chassis is"provided with running gear havingwheels offset fromits 'carirag'e frame and the 'casters5' ofwhi'ch'are adapted toSup= port the chassis ant lite swivel, as: required, to permitthe chassis-readily to be moved in any cle-; i sired direction for proper alignment overa grave l 52, Figure 3.

Mounted uponithe tops of the tubular standards II are gear housings I3. These housings I3 are formed with lower downwardly extended I flanges I3 into which the tops of the standards II extend and towhich they are" bolted, Fig; ure 4. The gear housings I3 are formed with heads I3 removably secured thereto A shaft I5 is extended transverselylacross oneend of the apparatus, above the standards II,

and is mounted at itsends upon ball bearings t in a pair of laterally-opposed gear housings I3.

This shaft I5 is provided with worms I6- secured thereto within the gearhousings I3. The threads ojfithe orm fiflare either right or left hand depending 'on'" the direction" of rotation required of certain parts to'be her'einaftendescribed. The intermediate portion of the worm shaft I5 is housed in one oftwo fend tubular braces- I5" mountedat their'fends in the inner walls of the late'rally opposed gear [housings 'I3; The ends ofth'e worm shaft I5 extend outwardly fromithe gearhousings I3 and are formed. with crankengaging portions I5 a'd'a'pted to be actuated by-a'j crank 23."f j-Engaging the respective worms,

I6 'wi thinthes'aid pair of'h'ousings I3 are worm wheels ILFigures i and 5,. secured to longitudinally fextendiiigjistub shafts .I8 mounted .upon

ball bearings-mine Housings I3 'andeXtended atone end through and inwardly thereof. The

stub shafts lfljlare, securedtofthe hubs 'of the worm wheels" I'I by means bf lcoope'rating keys and'fop'en ended keyways. "The inner extended n'dsf of'the'stub'shaftsi'l8. are fastened by pins 35 toannulardollars or plugs. 24 and the latter are .ijsecuredf byiiscrews v 24" to" longitudinally; ex

tending-(tubular shafts 4 mounted each: at one upon collarsfladjacent thejsaid ends' ffrjespect vely';to stub shafts notably mounted'infthe' pair 'of housingssm at the opposite end orithapparatusix.

fAl'sofl'secured to Zthe'tubular shafts "I4 is 'srws 2'4" ansurrbunding sa'id shafts 14' are sleeves these isleves -29.'-"bein'g formed with d ain pertions', ZITWhich'in: turn are formed with helical cable) "grooves; 2 I1, forming ,runways "for cables Ia ha /111;; hooks '22 'atflone" end and secured-at 2 0, the winding and unwinding of the cables I9 and" hence" jthe raisingor lowering of, the hooks 21"] ,will be understoodgtlie worms, I6 are of the self-lacking type so-Tthatlthe load will under no, circumstances cause the worms to rotate thus'fsubje'cting the, control of the load at alljtime's to theactionof the operator.v In the 'applicatien. of the invention herein shown, these hooks? are adaptd to engage the siderhandl'es orjho'oks i353 .ofa grave vault-i 32 disposed ,within thecompassf ofthe mechanism, and, displace the Vault .as'requ ed; the apparatus being. particue f a la ly useful for lowering avault 3 into a grave 52; Fig ule 3. M

I3va'nd securedat their lother I provide improved means for insuring the proper running of the cables I9 in the grooves 2I' andthe holding of the coils of the cables in proper position in said grooves. These means 5 comprise brackets 25 secured to the inner side surfaces and adjacent the bottom of the tubular corner standards II, Figure 4,'and forming supports for upright posts 26; 'Also mounted at their lower ends upon 'the'brackets 25 and encircling the posts 26 are compression springs 28. Resting upon the top of the springs 28 and slidable at one end upon the posts 26 are elonated longitudinal arms 21 whose other ends pass through enlarged holes 34' formed adjacent the ('15 top of upstanding pipes 34 welded at their bot- -tom eInds to-the longitudinal carriage angles 2 and welded at theirtop ends to bearing elements 34 supported on the outer surfaces of the tubular shafts I4. The maximum lift of the outer goendsof the arms 21- by the springs 28 is determinedby stop pins 29 intersecting the posts-26 adjacent thetops of the latter; Means'for aid-, ing th e positioning of the'arms :21 in. the'enlarged postfholesI34" are provided by pins 21 intersecting thearnis 21 longitudinally adjacent the pipes 34. Surrounding the arms Z'I'adjacent- 1y exteriorly ofthe pipes 3 4 and mounted on said arms'Z'I on'ball bearings are rollers 39 dis; posed a djacently below the cable grooves 2|.

30 The'heights of the enlarged holes 34' and the pins 29 are such that the rollers 39 are caused to engage {whatever turns" of the cables I9 are wound onfthe drumsQZI under the tension exerted-by: thespringsZBM The tendency of the 35. springs 28 ,is,of course, totlift the outer ends of the arms 2'! so that wh ateveramountsofcables I9 are wound uponlthe drumsZI the coils there- 40. cables I9 to and from said-grooves ZI' and a 9 'holdingof the coils of the cables I9 to their respective positions are effected-by the restraint '50 and the coils wouldtend tooverlapr' The use of the described apparatus readily understood. Wherever the load; such as a grave vault, is located, the a'pparatus islifted and positioned over the vault, the dimensions of the apparatus being such, as clearly shown in Figures 1, 2; andthat'fit extends beyond the ends and sides of the Vault. hooks22.

60, transported cver the ground the apparatus,

permitting the "truck" with its load t be moved in any desired directionand overany character 5 oi gro n dp dmarnyl roun in! seem am: The, apparatus with its vault load is runrin'to passion; over the grave,- a s shown nns-me 3-, planks 53, or other suitable supports, being disposed adJ'a-. cently laterally of the two sides of the "g'raveisz" 1 onto which the truck-isrun, and 'upon wliich it is ls'upported; during the Vault-lowering opei'atidI LQY.

' Different ch'a improved apparatus f desig'ned," or {different 7s rqin 'rely' ariation .irith'. height of arelheldp to their respective positions in the rooves ZIand' thus a proper feeding of thev i in he 91mm will bl of thecables l'sarelthen fastened touts vault handles 33 and, .after -thevaultis raised, it is he e t e fieee a t k t e? 9 3 the-wheels: I and-the swivel mounting thereof ractersl service for. the:

of the mounting of the transmission and the cable drums over the carriage level, and this desired variation is easily accommodated by using tubular corner standards I I of a length suitable for the required service.

The apparatus heretofore described presupposes its use with a vault having a top cover member. oftentimes grave vaults have end openings through which access is obtained for the positioning of the coilin in the vault. For use in servicing such a vault 32, Figure 8, when mounted upon the improved apparatus, the tubular brace l at one end of the apparatus is dispensed with and the carriage is strengthened by short inclined braces 31 secured at this apparatus end to the end angle l and to the gear housings I3 The end opening for such vault is indicated by the character 32 and, it will be noted, that free access to this opening is afforded.

oftentimes it is desirable to run the apparatus over a vault, instead of lifting the same thereover, and a modified form of apparatus for this purpose is shown in Figures 9 and 10. The necessary changes to effect the desired difference in structure are readily provided for by using corner standards 39 of the necessary greater length and substituting for the end carriage angle at one end of the machine a removable cross bar 40, and using shortened carriage frame and angle brackets 4|. It is evident, as shown in Figures 9 and 10, that the bar 40 being removed and the corner standards 39 being of sufficient length, the apparatus can be rolled over and laterally by the vault 32 and properly positioned for lifting and lowering of the vault.

In one form of the improved apparatus, the corner standards for supporting the transmission and load-lowering members are axially aligned with the spindles of the casters of the running gear. Such modified form of the structure is shown in Figures 11, 12 and 13. In this form of structure the axial lines of the spindles 56 of the offset running gear yokes 55 are followed, and the offset housings 45 of the carriage frame connecting angle brackets 44 are straight cylindrical tubular members receiving the corner standards 46 which extend to the bottom of said housings and are bolted thereto and also to interior sleeves or spacers 47. Ball bearings 49 and 49 are disposed in the corner standards 46 between the standard bodies and the ends of the caster spindles 56, adjacently above and below the sleeves 41'. Caps v48 for the tops of the spindles 56 are bolted to the latter and lap over upon the upper ball bearings 49.

What I claim is:

Load-servicing means comprising a mobile support, upstanding corner standards mounted thereon, mounted on th respective standards; a crossshaft whose ends intersect and are rotatably mounted in a laterally-opposed pair of said housings, a pair of longitudinally-extended shafts, stub shafts mounted in the respective housings and extended inwardly thereof, annular collars secured to the respective inwardly-extended ends of the stub shafts mounted in said laterallyopposed pair of housings, sleeves mounted respectively, upon the ends of said longitudinallyextended shafts, means rotatably securing together said sleeves and the adjacent ends of said longitudinally-extended shafts and-said collars, means respectively rotatably securing together the opposite ends of said longitudinally-extended shafts and the adjacent stub shafts, worm-wheels disposed in said laterally-opposed pair of housings and secured respectively to the stub shafts of said housings, worms in said laterally-opposed pair of housings secured to the respective ends of said cross-shaft and engaging said wormwheels, respectively, means for turning said cross shaft, said sleeves being formed with integral drum portions having cable runways, and cables respectively secured at one end to said drum portions and disposed in said runways and having grab hooks at their opposite ends, each drum portion and its associated cable being a separate entity independent of the other drum portions and cables.

enclosed housings secured to and 

